Having never written anything before, I am somewhat of an accidental author and didn't really intend for my Battersea memoirs to become a book. Life is funny like that. After receiving an expensive education, my parents are horrified when I announce that I am not going to university. Instead, I have decided to become a kennel maid and work with dogs, my lifelong passion. They are not `animal people' and are highly unamused, in fact, we almost come to blows over it. I begin Battersea life at the bottom, cleaning out, feeding and walking the dogs. Never having had any previous dog experience, I find myself on a steep learning curve but gradually work my way up the ranks to become a member of the Rehoming team, interviewing members of public that wish to adopt a Battersea dog. Ultimately I become Battersea's Rehoming Manager and due to my confidence in front of television cameras, I also unwittingly become the media `face of Battersea'. At Battersea I deal with an extremely diverse set of people, from celebrities and royalty to ordinary people and those down on their luck and it is at this remarkable dogs' home that I learn more about human nature than anywhere else. It is not long before I also come to see that dogs have the ability to bridge all social and class divides like nothing else. After many years at Battersea witnessing other people's mistakes, I feel as though my circumstances are right and I finally realise my dream of having my own dog. The elderly, but charming, `Gus' and I share three and a half wonderful years together before I have to face every dog owner's worst nightmare. I left Battersea Dogs Home after 15 years to set up home in Australia. When I arrived in Oz I was extremely homesick and desperately missing the dogs. Due to the fact that I didn't have a job and hardly knew a soul Down Under, I encountered none of life's usual distractions and for the first time found I had the time and space to reflect on my previous decade and a half. I always knew Battersea was a special place but it was only then that I came to realise just what a truly incredible time I'd had there. So I began to write down some of my memories, partly so I didn't forget them, partly as therapy to alleviate the homesickness and relive those blissful years. It worked. I felt happiest when I was writing about Battersea and before I knew it, I'd written 90,000 words, enough for a book! Having never penned anything before, however, I was convinced it was rubbish and besides, who else would be interested in my story? I showed it to a friend of a friend who was a literary agent. To my amazement she liked it and showed it to a publisher. The rest is history.
Rescue Me is an account of the 15 extraordinary years I spent at the world's most famous dogs' home.
My time at this unique establishment is an emotional roller coaster - I witness abject cruelty and hopelessness, heart-warming optimism and euphoria. I see a never-ending conveyer belt of dumped, destitute dogs but much more than this, I experience countless uplifting and inspiring moments every single day.
Some of the dogs that feature in my story come into Battersea as broken, shell-shocked wrecks, some as bolshy, over-confident biting machines but most are just loveable rogues that find themselves lost or abandoned. The work that goes into rescuing, reuniting, rehabilitating and rehoming them is phenomenal; almost as amazing as the people that come to offer them their homes and a second chance at life.
The book is an account of some extraordinary circumstances I found myself in - often completely unconnected to my everyday world of dogs - circumstances brought about simply as a result of my passion for dogs equaling someone else's. It is also a celebration of all the good that comes out of one unique, genuine, caring, determined, proud establishment; a place that has become as deeply ingrained in British heritage as the monarchy, fish and chips and cups of tea. A place known simply as Battersea Dogs Home.